Lena Rivera
Alfred Stevens' painting 'Before the Storm' is also known as 'Storm at Honfleur'. It is unclear when the painting was created, but it is estimated to have been painted sometime before 1890. Stevens' work on this painting was influenced by Corot’s vibrant, flickering brushwork, and it is said that this influence is evident in the final work.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | Before the Storm or Storm at Honfleur |
| Artist | Alfred Stevens |
| Year | 1890 |
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What You'll Learn
Alfred Stevens' birth and death
Alfred Stevens was born on 11 May 1823 or 1828 in Brussels, Belgium. He came from a family involved with the visual arts: his older brother Joseph (1816–1892) and his son Léopold (1866–1935) were painters, while another brother Arthur (1825–1899) was an art dealer and critic. His father, who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars in the army of William I of the Netherlands, was an art collector. Stevens' mother's parents owned Café de l'Amitié in Brussels, a meeting place for politicians, writers, and artists.
Stevens began his studies at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels in 1837. He moved to Paris in 1843, where he attended the École des Beaux-Arts. Stevens' work was first shown to the public in 1851, and he continued to exhibit his work annually. He fought for the French during the Franco-Prussian War but returned to Belgium before the Paris Commune. After the war, he continued to achieve critical acclaim and success with collectors. In 1875, he bought a grand house and garden in Paris, which also appeared in the paintings of other artists. However, he had to leave the house in 1880 due to the construction of a new street, which was named after him.
Stevens suffered from a lung condition and was advised by a doctor in 1880 to make regular trips to Normandy for his health. He made a series of small paintings of the sea during this time. In 1889, his work was exhibited at the Paris World Fair, and he received several professional tributes. Despite these successes, Stevens struggled financially due to bad investments and excessive spending. He died alone in Paris in 1906, at the age of 83, while still in touch with his four children.
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Early life and education
Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 11 May 1823 (or 1828 by one source). He came from a family involved in the visual arts: his older brother Joseph (1816–1892) and his son Léopold (1866–1935) were painters, while another brother Arthur (1825–99) was an art dealer and critic. His father, who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars in the army of William I of the Netherlands, was an art collector with a passion for pictures. He owned several watercolours by Eugène Delacroix, among others. Stevens' mother's parents ran Café de l'Amitié in Brussels, a meeting place for politicians, writers, and artists. The Stevens children benefited from the people they met there and the social skills they acquired growing up around important people.
Stevens' father died in 1837, after which he left middle school to begin studying at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. There, he knew François Navez, a Neo-Classical painter and former student of Jacques-Louis David, who was the director and an old friend of Stevens' grandfather. Following a traditional curriculum, Stevens drew from casts of classical sculpture for the first two years, and then drew from live models. In 1843 or 1844, Stevens went to Paris, joining his brother Joseph, who was already there. He was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts, then the most important art school in Paris. Although it is said that he became a student of its director, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, this is likely not true.
Stevens' first picture, painted in 1849, was titled either 'The Pardon' or 'Absolution' (or possibly 'A Soldier in Trouble'). This early work showed his mastery of a conventional naturalistic style, which owed much to 17th-century Dutch genre painting. Like the Belgian painter and friend with whom he stayed in Paris, Florent Joseph Marie Willems (1823–1905), Stevens carefully studied works by painters such as Gerard ter Borch and Gabriel Metsu. Stevens' work was shown publicly for the first time in 1851, when three of his paintings were admitted to the Brussels Salon.
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Career beginnings
Alfred Stevens (full name: Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens) was born in Brussels, Belgium, on May 11, 1823 (or 1828, according to one source). He came from a family involved in the visual arts: his older brother Joseph (1816–1892) and his son Léopold (1866–1935) were painters, while another brother Arthur (1825–99) was an art dealer and critic. His father, who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars in the army of William I of the Netherlands, was an art collector. His mother's parents ran Café de l'Amitié in Brussels, a meeting place for politicians, writers, and artists.
Stevens' artistic education began at a young age. Before his father's death in 1837, Stevens' father allowed him to draw in the studio of François Navex, director of the Brussels Academy. After his father's passing, Stevens left middle school to study at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, where he continued his classical artistic education. Here, he befriended François Navez, a Neo-Classical painter and former student of Jacques-Louis David, who was also a friend of Stevens' grandfather. For the first two years, Stevens drew from casts of classical sculptures, and then he progressed to drawing from live models.
In 1843 or 1844, Stevens moved to Paris, joining his brother Joseph, who was already living there. He enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts, considered the most important art school in Paris at the time. Although it was rumoured that he studied under the school's director, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, this is likely untrue. During his time in Paris, Stevens carefully studied the works of painters such as Gerard ter Borch and Gabriel Metsu. In 1849, he painted his first picture, "A Soldier in Trouble", and exhibited it in Brussels. That same year, he returned to Paris, where he settled permanently.
Stevens' work was first exhibited to the public in 1851, when three of his paintings were admitted to the Brussels Salon. This marked the beginning of his artistic career and the start of his recognition in the art world.
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Artistic style and influences
The painting "Before the Storm" by Alfred Stevens is believed to have been created in the year 1867. This date falls within a significant period in the artist's career, marking a transition in his artistic style and a culmination of influences that shaped his body of work.
[Artistic Style and Influences]
Alfred Stevens' artistic style was deeply rooted in realism and naturalism, with a strong emphasis on meticulous detail. This is evident in "Before the Storm," where he carefully rendered the scene with precise brushwork and a keen eye for light and shadow. Stevens' early training in his hometown of Brussels and subsequent studies in Paris exposed him to a range of artistic movements and masters who left an indelible mark on his work. One of the most significant influences on Stevens was the renowned French painter Ingres, known for his sleek, linear style and elegant figures. Ingres' work inspired Stevens to adopt a more restrained and classical approach to his compositions, which can be seen in the graceful poses of the women in "Before the Storm."
Additionally, Stevens was influenced by the artistic movement of Orientalism, which romanticized and exoticized the cultures of the Near East and North Africa. This influence is reflected in his choice of subject matter, as he often depicted scenes inspired by his travels to Egypt and Turkey. "Before the Storm" may draw on these experiences, as the setting suggests an exotic, faraway land. Stevens also admired the work of the French painter Eugène Delacroix, whose use of vibrant colors and loose brushwork left an impression on him. While Stevens' style remained rooted in realism, he incorporated a richer and more diverse color palette, adding a sense of vibrancy to his paintings.
Another artist who influenced Stevens was the Spanish master Velázquez, whose paintings often featured a subdued palette and subtle lighting effects. Stevens adopted a similar approach to lighting, using soft, diffused light to create a sense of atmosphere and depth in his work. This subtle handling of light and shadow adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to "Before the Storm," enhancing the emotional impact of the scene. Stevens was also known for his interest in Japanese art and aesthetics, which influenced his composition and use of space. He often utilized a diagonal composition, creating a sense of movement and dynamism within the frame, a technique that can be seen in "Before the Storm."
Lastly, Stevens' work also reflected the influence of contemporary photography. The use of photography as a reference tool was becoming more common among artists, and Stevens embraced this technology. He incorporated the careful framing and attention to detail often found in photographs into his paintings, adding a sense of realism and immediacy to his work. This combination of diverse influences and a unique personal style established Stevens as one of the leading artists of his time, with "Before the Storm" standing as a testament to his artistic vision and skill.
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Exhibitions and awards
The Belgian painter Alfred Stevens (1823-1906) exhibited his work publicly for the first time in 1851, when three of his paintings were admitted to the Brussels Salon. He went on to win a third-class medal at the Paris Salon in 1853 and a second-class medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1855. Stevens also exhibited at the Antwerp Salon in 1855, introducing subjects from "la vie moderne" for which he became known: an elegant young woman in contemporary dress and the artist in his studio.
Stevens continued to exhibit his work regularly throughout his career, including at the Great Exhibition of 1867, where he displayed eighteen paintings. He also exhibited at the Paris International Exhibitions of 1878 and 1889 and at the Historical Exhibition of Belgian Art in Brussels in 1880. In 1889, Stevens exhibited a monumental work at the Paris World Fair—a 20-meter-high panorama depicting over 660 identifiable, life-size famous figures from one hundred years of French history.
Stevens's work was also exhibited in Amsterdam in a show dedicated to his art, the first of its kind in the Netherlands. The exhibition featured 64 paintings collected from public and private collections across Europe and the United States.
Stevens's work was recognised with several awards during his lifetime. In addition to the medals received at the Paris Salon and Universal Exposition, he was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1878 and received a first-class medal at the Salon that year.
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